Equality Illinois worked to advance the following legislative initiatives during the 2021 session of the Illinois General Assembly:
SB 818
The Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act creates guidelines for teaching age-appropriate, inclusive, and comprehensive personal health and safety education and sexual health education in Illinois public schools. This instruction will equip youth in public schools with the tools and information they need to lead healthy and safe lives. Local schools will continue to decide whether or not to provide this education, and parents can choose to opt out their student. SB 818 is an initiative of the Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy coalition, which includes Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, ACLU of Illinois, AIDS Foundation Chicago, Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Rainbow Café LGBTQ Center, Prairie Pride Coalition, Phoenix Center, Peoria Proud, and many more organizations from across Illinois.
Status: SIGNED by Gov. Pritzker on August 20, 2021
Birth certificate modernization
HB 9
Permits self-attestation in order to correct the gender marker on a birth certificate (removing the requirement for a healthcare provider’s note).
Status: Pending in the Illinois Senate (already passed the Illinois House)
HIV decriminalization
HB 1063
Repeals the HIV criminalization law. An initiative of the Illinois HIV Action Alliance.
Status: SIGNED by Gov. Pritzker on July 27, 2021
Demographic data collection
SB 2133
Requires ten state agencies to expand demographic data collection (including sexual orientation and gender identity) on participants in state programs. An initiative of a task force that includes Howard Brown Health, AIDS Foundation Chicago, Pride Action Tank, SAGE, Center on Halsted, Northwestern University’s Evaluation, Data Integration, and Technical Assistance Program, and Equality Illinois
Status: SIGNED by Gov. Pritzker on August 20, 2021
Modernizing name change law for political candidates
SB 825 (Election Omnibus Bill)
Allows trans folks to run for elected office without having to publish their deadnames on petitions and on the ballot.
Status: SIGNED by Gov. Pritzker on June 17, 2021
Allowing gender-inclusive multi-occupancy restrooms
HB 3195
Allows public and private entities to implement gender-inclusive multi-occupancy restrooms if they want. Sets conditions. An initiative of Justin Sia and Equality Illinois.
Status: Pending in the Illinois Senate (already passed the Illinois House)
Charting inclusive corporate board leadership
SB 1730
Requires corporations in Illinois to annually report out on the data for the self-identified sexual orientation and gender identity of the members of their boards of directors.
Status: PASSED the Illinois General Assembly
Standardizing name changes on marriage certificates
HB 2590
Creates a uniform standard that county clerks must adhere to for name changes on marriage certificates. An initiative of Equality Illinois and Chicago House and Social Service Agency.
Status: SIGNED by Gov. Pritzker on July 27, 2021
Below are a few measures that are not Equality Illinois bills, but we support:
HB 376 is the TEAACH Act, which ensures the historical contributions of Asian Americans are taught in Illinois schools. The TEAACH Act is an initiative of a coalition that includes Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago.
Status: SIGNED by Gov. Pritzker on July 9, 2021
HB 1290 would restore state veterans benefits to individuals who received other than honorable or general discharges because of their LGBTQ status.
Status: SIGNED by Gov. Pritzker on August 15, 2021
HB 2542 would bring our state’s overly-restrictive name change law in line with the majority of other states and help transgender and gender-expansive individuals and survivors of human trafficking to live safer and more authentic lives by removing the ten-year waiting period and the lifetime ban. The bill is led by trans advocates, the ACLU of Illinois, Chicago House and Social Service Agency, the Transformative Justice Law Project, and the Chicago Bar Foundation.
Status: Pending in the Illinois Senate (already passed the Illinois House)
Contact your State Senator in Support of HB 2542: https://secure.everyaction.
HB 3709 updates the state’s existing infertility insurance law to be inclusive of LGBTQ families and single parents and reduce the wait time for women over 35.
Status: SIGNED by Gov. Pritzker on July 27, 2021
SB 139 establishes a process for individuals to correct the gendered language on their marriage certificates.
Status: SIGNED by Gov. Pritzker on July 27, 2021